Juan Agudelo has quickly become the sweetheart of American soccer

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty ImagesJuan Agudelo (left) and Oguchi Onyewu of the U.S. celebrate Agudelo's game-tying goal during the second half of a friendly match against Argentina at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford tonight.

For nearly an hour, the United States attack was as chilly as the windswept bowl at New Meadowlands Stadium.

Argentina, the opponent for this friendly match, toyed with the ball. It pinballed passes through U.S. defenders and between their legs. They dribbled around the home team, clad in red, as if the Americans were dressed in orange, like cones on a practice field.

“I told him these are the games you make a name,” striker Jozy Altidore said. “You got to introduce yourself.”

Before the 78,936 here, Agudelo’s introduction was emphatic. Seemingly overnight, the 18-year-old has become American soccer’s sweetheart.

He has shown tantalizing glimpses of a dire U.S. requirement: An attacking threat capable of snatching victory, or a tie, when a much worse result seems probable. He has the physical and technical prowess to compete against world-class defenders. His confidence, in just his third national team cap, belies his age and experience. His exuberance is both genuine and endearing.

“For a young player, Juan, whenever you put him on the field, you can tell he has confidence,” national team coach Bob Bradley said. “He puts himself in good positions. Whenever the ball comes he’s strong. He’s looking to try things that make sense.”

Agudelo’s trajectory prompts a cautious hope. The tune has, over the last decade, become familiar: A young forward scores a couple goals and is anointed savior to the Americans’ goal-scoring deficiencies.

Altidore was once that player, but has not proven to be a reliable scorer. At the World Cup, no U.S. forward netted a goal, and Altidore has just 10 goals in 33 caps.

Before Agudelo graced the field as a halftime substitution, the U.S. mustered little possession, let alone pressure on Andujar’s goal. The Americans managed two benign shots and were pushed deep into their own half.

Altidore, a former Red Bulls striker and a New Jersey native, failed to challenge Argentina’s three-man back-line or keep the ball on his feet as the Americans’ lone striker.

Agudelo’s entrance infused the American attack with a threatening presence. The formation, a 4-5-1 at the outset, shifted to a more positive and balanced 4-4-2, and by the final whistle the Americans looked capable of winning.

The Colombian-born, Barnegat-raised Agudelo has undergone rapid maturation since he signed with the Red Bulls one year ago today, after featuring for their youth academy and a brief stint with Colombian side Millonarios.

In the Red Bulls’ season opener last Saturday, Agudelo scored his first MLS goal. On that occasion, he displayed his brutal physicality. He ran onto a long pass and shielded a Seattle Sounders defender before slicing the game-winner past Kasey Keller with his right foot.

His goal tonight was considerably less attractive, yet demonstrative of another impressive quality. Landon Donovan lofted a free kick into the center of the box, where captain Carlos Bocanegra nodded it toward the back post. Waiting there was Agudelo to record his second national team goal.

“As a forward, you look for any goal you can get,” Agudelo said.

Like his first goal for the national team, a game-winner Nov. 17 against South Africa, Agudelo proved to be in an opportune position at the right moment.

“He’s had a knack now for turning up in some good spots to get goals,” Bradley said. Altidore called it “a nose for goal.”

Aside from Argentina’s sublime forward Lionel Messi, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, Agudelo was the most electric player on the field — a source of heat on an otherwise cold night.